We were already compiling a few notes about the “art of pluralizing” when we got a rash of input (from TV, Twitter, and email) about the plurals of compound nouns, specifically those compound nouns consisting of a noun plus a modifier.

daddy longlegs – conventional wisdom would lead us to the plural form of: daddies longlegs, however, since that is cumbersome, we suggest: Harvestmen

Attorney General – no question about this one: Attorneys General

gin and tonic – conventional wisdom (gins and tonic) again loses out here (we defer to ironic1.com for this one ): gin and tonics

notary public – not much question with this one: notaries public

brother-in-law – consistent formation found for this plural: brothers-in-law

maid of honor – 1) for more than one honor: maid of honors; 2) for more than one wedding attendant: maids of honor (please, only one MOH per wedding); for more than one copy of the movie Made of Honor: we suggest DVDs.

man-of-war – encounter one and there are likely more on the beach or in the water: men-of-war

Bride of Chucky – ok, so are you talking about the plural of Chucky’s mates or the number of movies … or, even, the possessive? For our purposes here, today: Brides of Chucky

Good, now we’re getting more input. In a recent Twitter conversation:

@NeillShentonto @GrammarCops“ok, what about multiple spoons full of something? Plural* me that – i’d rather rephrase a sentence than type THAT ugly word.”

R-O-A-D T-R-I-P!!!

And, not just any road trip … the ultimate. So, to avoid the almost inevitable “Are we there yet?” the astronauts should have some games to play and songs to sing along the way, don’t you think?

Here are a few items we put together for their entertainment …

To start, a scavenger hunt of sorts …

Moon Trip Bingo – players have cards with pictures of space items on them in a simple 4 x 4 grid corresponding to the four letters in the word M-O-O-N. When a player observes an item on his card, he marks the picture with a token or by writing a check or X on the item. This continues until one player completes a “BINGO” pattern, such as a line with four marked pictures in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on one of their cards, and calls out “To The Moon!” He wins.

Sample “Road Trip Bingo” cards are provided just in case the astronauts are grounded and need a game for their earthly travels.

Next, what about a new twist on an old favorite …

The Space (License) Plate Game – players see how many satellite “license plates” they can find and check them off the list. This game can be played as a crew or individually. Play can be just for one day, or the search for plates can continue throughout the entire voyage, and see how many different plates can be observed between the Earth and the Moon (and back). Players might even record the time, date and the location of each “plate” sighting.

The named countries in this “Space Plate Game” come from a Wiki list of space agencies capable of conducting basic space activities, such as satellite operations.

Sample pictures of the country plates are provided to assist players in identifying their observations.

And, to round out the trip, there must be a theme song. We thought this might be appropriate …

He’s Got the Whole World – sing along, will you? It’s easy … here are the lyrics to the chorus:

As a bonus, we started building a soundtrack for the journey. Our initial thoughts …

Fly me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra

Rocket Man by Elton John

No Stopping Us by Jason Mraz (from Waiting for My Rocket to Come)

Rocket in My Pocket by Little Feat

Not to Touch the Earth by The Doors

Planet Earth by Duran Duran

Shining Star by Earth Wind & Fire

Outer Space From The Day The Earth Stood Still by Bernard Herrmann (from Fantastic Journey)

Earth Beat by Herbie Hancock

Peace on Earth by U2

Planets Of The Universe by Stevie Nicks

Moon River by Andy Williams

Venus, the Bringer of Peace by Elgar Holst (from The Planets)

Gemini Moon by Bryan Ferry

There’s A Moon Out Tonight by The Capris

Moonshadow by Cat Stevens

Piano Sonata no. 14 in C# min “Moonlight” by Ludwig van Beethoven

Shepherd Moons by Enya

Suite From Moonwalker by Bruce Broughton (from Fantastic Journey)

Girl On The Moon by Foreigner

Lasso The Moon by Gary Morris

Moonage Daydream by David Bowie

East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) by Diana Krall

Nightfall: Water From The Moon by David Lanz

Moon by George Winston

Moonlight Serenade by The Glen Miller Orchestra

Radar Love by Golden Earring

Autumn Moon by Hiroshima

Moondance by Kitaro

Can’t Fight The Moonlight by Leann Rimes

How High the Moon by Les Paul & Mary Ford

One Time One Night by Los Lobos (from By The Light Of The Moon)

Harvest Moon by Niel Young

L.A. to the Moon by Ronnie Milsap

Once In A Lover’s Moon by Taylor Weaver

Moondance by Van Morrison

Breathing (By the light of the moon) by Abraham Cloud

Down To The Moon by Andreas Vollenweider

Water From The Moon by Celine Dion

Blue Moon by Chris Isaak

Moon Tune by Bob James & David Sanborn

Sail On White Moon by Boz Scaggs

Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Lo And Behold by Duncan Sheik (from Phantom Moon)

Mad Man Moon by Genesis

Moonlight And Gold by Gerry Rafferty

Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In The Spotlight) by Thin Lizzy

Although the word utilize has origins as far back as the early 1800s, it seems that the computer age has put this term front and center. And, regardless of its standing as an official word in most dictionaries, it gets some people riled. Consider this usage note from dictionary.com:

Usage Note: A number of critics have remarked that utilizeis an unnecessary substitute for use. It is true that many occurrences of utilize could be replaced by use with no loss to anything but pretentiousness, for example, in sentences such as ‘They utilizedquestionable methods in their analysis’ or ‘We hope that many commuters will continue to utilize mass transit after the bridge has reopened.’ But utilize can mean ‘to find a profitable or practical use for.’ Thus the sentence ‘The teachers were unable to usethe new computers’ might mean only that the teachers were unable to operate the computers, whereas ‘The teachers were unable to utilize the new computers’ suggests that the teachers could not find ways to employ the computers in instruction.

Here’s a simple and functional distinction:

Useis the general word: (What is used often has depreciated or been diminished, sometimes completely consumed: a used automobile; All the butter has been used.) As applied to persons, use implies some selfish or sinister purpose: to use another to advance oneself. Utilize implies practical or profitable use: to utilize the means at hand, a modern system of lighting.

Plus, the dictionary definitions:

use. verb (used with object).

to employ for some purpose; put into service; make use of: to use a knife.

to avail oneself of; apply to one’s own purposes: to use the facilities.

to expend or consume in use: We have used the money provided.

to treat or behave toward: He did not use his employees with much consideration.

to take unfair advantage of; exploit: to use people to gain one’s own ends.

to drink, smoke, or ingest habitually: to use drugs.

to habituate or accustom.

Archaic. to practice habitually or customarily; make a practice of.

use. verb. (used without object).

to be accustomed, wont, or customarily found (used with an infinitive expressed or understood, and, except in archaic use, now only in the past): He used to go every day.

Archaic. to resort, stay, or dwell customarily.

use. noun.

the act of employing, using, or putting into service: the use of tools.

the state of being employed or used.

an instance or way of employing or using something: proper use of the tool; the painter’s use of color.

a way of being employed or used; a purpose for which something is used: He was of temporary use. The instrument has different uses.

the power, right, or privilege of employing or using something: to lose the use of the right eye; to be denied the use of a library card.

service or advantage in or for being employed or used; utility or usefulness: of no practical use.

help; profit; resulting good: What’s the use of pursuing the matter?

occasion or need, as for something to be employed or used: Would you have any use for another calendar?

continued, habitual, or customary employment or practice; custom: to follow the prevailing use of such occasions.

Law. a. the enjoyment of property, as by the employment, occupation, or exercise of it. b. the benefit or profit of lands and tenements in the possession of another who simply holds them for the beneficiary. c. the equitable ownership of land to which the legal title is in another’s name.

Liturgy. the distinctive form of ritual or of any liturgical observance used in a particular church, diocese, community, etc.

usual or customary experience.

use. verb phrase.

use up, a. to consume entirely. b. to exhaust of vigor or usefulness; finish: By the end of the war he felt used up and sick of life.

use. Idioms.

have no use for, a. to have no occasion or need for: She appears to have no use for the city. b. to refuse to tolerate; discount: He had no use for his brother. c. to have a distaste for; dislike: He has no use for dictators.

make use of, to use for one’s own purposes; employ: Charitable organizations will make use of your old furniture and clothing.

of no use, of no advantage or help: It’s of no use to look for that missing earring. It’s no use asking her to go. Also, no use.

put to use, to apply; employ to advantage: What a shame that no one has put that old deserted mansion to use!

And then there’s …

utilize. verb (used with object). Also, especially British, utilise.

to put to use; turn to profitable account: to utilize a stream to power a mill.

to understand how to do a particular job or activity: It’ll take some time for the new receptionist to learn the ropes.

Usage note: sometimes used in the forms know the ropes (to understand how something is done) and show someone the ropes or teach someone the ropes (to teach someone how something is done): You’d better find someone to show you the ropes if you’re going to fix the car yourself.